It's difficult in today's noisy world to see what lies beyond it -- an unseen eternity. There was a time in my early years of marriage when I thought more eternally, but today I struggle to see that place through the chaos, the distractions, and all the voices. Being eternally-minded requires some intentional effort.

As the new year rolled in, I wanted to set some time aside to think about what God would have for me in 2015 -- more so for our family. How would He have me accomplish His will? What goals did I need to make? What sins and character flaws did I need to recognize and work on? Plus, as a blogger, what new goals did I have and would the cost be too great for my family of 9?

Sally Clarkson's book, Own Your Life is helping me to refine and redefine my vision and goals and in chapters 3 and 4, specifically, bringing me back to that state of being eternally minded.

You see, as a mom, it's not enough to simply get through meals, tidy the house, keep our kids busy, and call it a day. Our children require a spiritual shaping, just as we do, that takes intentional discipline. What we do to mold our children is often done behind closed doors. Days, months, and years of training, and teaching, and molding our children is an unseen, eternal endeavor.

"...while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

The unseen things are love, compassion, forgiveness, repentance, training our children in the Lord, prayer/time with God in secret and much more.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for ministry, but we must be wise and discern God’s voice on where He would lead us. Each season, each family dynamic, each calling is very different from mom to mom.

As a blogger, I wanted to write more in 2015, but as a homeschooling mother of seven children, honestly evaluating the needs of my family against the time it would take to write more, simply didn’t add up. Instead, it lead me to the goal of writing less. And you know what? I don’t regret that decision. In fact, I have been immensely blessed by not adding stress to myself or my family by trying to squeeze more hours out the day than literally exist.

I don’t want to live my life always feeling like I’m behind or rushing to get ahead. I want to live a challenging life, but those aren’t the types of challenges I am aiming for. I want to be challenged in my faith; in my walk with the Lord. How can I begin in that place?

I need to make sure I am disciplining myself— reading God’s word, accepting and applying His training, enduring difficult times, and being content in all things— so I can also discipline my children to grow in the same way.

Our world requires we commit to, not only be intentional, but deeply intentional. It takes a supernatural mind to overcome the noise of the world in order to follow God with deep intention. It is not an easy task and is always ongoing, but this is what builds our character and maturity.

We can continue to live in chaos, always feeling behind and rushed, or we can live with purpose and choose to own our life. We may have a past, but it doesn’t own our future. Even yesterday is gone. Today is new.

You have the ability to use hurts or inadequacies from your past to shape what your future will be. You can either choose to wallow in self-pity, or you can choose to rise above your circumstances and call yourself Redeemed Daughter of the Most High King and live in such a way that finishes with "well done, thy good and faithful servant."